Developing device



May 16, 19 9- F. DOETZEL, JR

DEVELOPING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1936 h n u n rllllllll FIG.

INVENTOR.

FRED DUETZA-Z JR.

ATTORNEY.

Filed June 22,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llb I INVENTOR F/FED DOA-775A, JR BY %W 4%,

ATTORNEY.

a @wom u 0 a 5 M Z o a My; Q 6 y y V Z MAN m m m May 16, 1939. F. DOETZEL, JR 2,158,817

' DEVELOPTG- DEVICE Filed Ju..,1- 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FRED D05 7 Z EL JR.

BY W ATTORNEY.

16,1939- F. DOETZEL, JR 2,158,817

DEVELOPING DEVICE I Filed June 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRED DOETZEL JR ATTORNEY.

Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of printing by the-photographic method and has particular relation to a device for developing and washing photographic prints such as blue prints, photocopies, Van Dyke prints, and the like.

In the art of printing by the photographic process it is customary to expose a sensitized film,

upon which an original or positive print is superposed, to light'rays and thus alter the chemical condition of the sensitized film according to the degree or amount of light which filters through the original and strikes the film. In order to carry out the chemical change to comple-- tion it is necessary to wash the sensitized film in 16 certain suitable chemical baths and to wash the chemical solution from the film. After the process has been completed the fihn is dried, in commercial work, by mechanical means such as heaters or blowers or both. go This printing process is usually accomplished by means of a machine which utilizes a continuous strip of sensitized film and which leads the strip into the various baths and over a dryer. This process is quite satisfactory where the operator-has a large number of positive prints so that he may cover practically the entire sheet of sensitized film and thus prevent wastage. However, if 'the operator has only a few positives to work from he cannot cover the strip, and since the strip in the machine is several feet long he may waste six to eight square feet of film in order to obtain one square foot of printed film.

I have conceived of a printing machine which obviates these difliculties and which will wash 5 and develop individual strips or pieces of sensitized film. The machine has been materially improved in structure and changing of the baths is readily and quickly accomplished by means of motor driven devices.

A general object of my invention is to provide a device which will wash and develop individual strips or pieces of film, sheets, paper and the like.

55 Another object of my invention is to provide an improved feeding means for feeding prints into the machine of the above character. v

Another object of my invention is to .provide a new means of limiting the amount of moisture or solution carried over from one bath to another. 6

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved means for applying chemical to the print and for removing it from the print and keeping it from passing on to the next bath.

Another object of my inventionis to provide a new and improved means for removing a print from a roller during the developing process. An important feature of my invention is that no mechanical means is employed, such as fingers and the like, during the intermediate steps of the developing process, for removing the prints from the various rollers. I

Other and further features and objects of the invention'will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the. accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is'disclosed a single. exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein asfall within the scope of the appended claims,- without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a device constructed according to one embodiment of my invention. 7

Figure 2 is an end elevational view corresponding in general with Figure 1 and taken from the right of the machine when viewed from the feeding and receiving side of the machine which is considered as'the front.

Figure 3 is also an end elevational view of the machine but is taken from the opposite end from Figures 1 and 2 on the left end.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the machine, and 4 Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the carrying means for carrying prints from the feed table into the machine.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly tol 'igures 1 and 6, a print which has been previously exposed and printed is fed into the machine from the feed table III. A roller II is provided just back of the feed table, and this roller has grooves it in the surface thereof to permit ends of carrying means, such as wires l2, whichare secured to a plate 20, to be received within the grooves. A plurality of disks print has passed beneath the roller j pipe" 2i and 2M deposit or spray dev l and squeegee and puddle roller 22.

38 are rotatably mounted above the roller l l and these disks are so spaced from the roller that a print inserted with its edge against the disks and roller will be drawn into the machine through rotation of the disks and roller, these parts being rotated by mechanism hereinafter described. The print is then driven across the upper surfaces of the wires i2 by means of the l s and roller until the leading edge reaches e large roller iii. During the period that the -t is being carried from the'feed rollers ll d water is being sprayed upon the surface the print from the spray pipes El and lia thereby the upper surface of the print is wetted he unexposed portions or" the print are so. the

st step of the usual chemical go or proces is accompli bed. The n slo e slightly upward whereby the w sh water tends to run down over the print form a puddle on the print adjacent the disks [8 to insure the wash water covering the print.

A relatively smaller roller i8, which may be a squeegee roller, ispositioned above the large'roller it and the surface of this roller rolls upon the surface of the roller and effects a closer adhesion of the print to the large roller as well as removing surplus moisture from the surface of .the print. A squeegee strip 9 is positioned just below the wires 22 in such position that it rubs on the surface of the roller it before it reaches the prints which are passonto the roller and this squeegee serves the double purpose of preventing moisture from the sprays ill and lid from running down to the lower portion of the roller i i and. also prevents carrying an excess amount of water from a stripping spray, hereinafter described, up on the roller ill, although sufficient water is deposited on the roller to cause the print to adhere to the roller. This portion of the process must be closely regulated so that too much moisture is not carried up on the roller because to do so would dilute the chemical bath. Just after the spray fixing chemical on the print tocarry out the second step of the developing process. The chemical runs on down over the surface of the print and roller until it reaches a combined The surface of the roller 22 is of relatively soft resilient material such as molletin, flannel, or. the like. This roller not only servesto remove the chemical from the face of the print and from the large rollerit? but also serves tocause a puddle of chemical to collect between the two rollers 22 and iii to insure the chemical reaching all parts of the print.

After the print has passed between the rollers l8 and 22, it is carried on down under the roller and may start up the other side, but at the lowest point a spray of water from-the spray pipe 23 strikes between the advancing print and the roller l6 to wash the print from the roller and cause it, through its own weight, to drop down as I it advances. until it strikes the roller 24, which is rotating in the opposite direction from roller if.

The spray 23 is not only a means of removing the print from the roller IE but also acts to wash the inner face of the print. to moisten the sur face of the print, and also remove any trace of chemical which might possibly have been deposited on this inner face of the print. A. trough 28 is provided beneath the squeegee roller 22, and

aisaeiv a lip ll of this trough extends up under the roller 22 to a position between the rollers l6 and 22 in order that chemical, which is being carried around the squeegee roller or any excess chemical dripping from the roller is carried down into the tank 26 where it may-be recirculated back to the sprays 2i and Ma.

The prints, as they drop from the roller l6, engage themselves, by adhesion, to theroller 24 and are carried around in front of and below this roller to a position adjacent the roller 26 and possibly slightly beyond the closest point between the two rollvrs. ,At this position the water spray from a Spiny pipe 29 strikes between the advancing print and the roller and peels the print from the roller. The spray acts not only as a means of removing the print from the roller but acts also as a water wash to wash the face of the print which may not have seen pre viously washed because it had not been exposed to the previous spray The spray strikes only the back of the print and thus the spray 29 is desirable to wash the front of the print. The purpose of these two sprays 25. and is to remove all vestige of chemicals which may have adhered to the print and to thus complete the final or washing step of the developing process.

Any excess water from the sprays and 2% is prevented from rolling down the front or advancing side of the roller 28 by means of a squeegee strip iii. A combined puddle and squeegee roller 32 is positioned to roll on roller at the lower rear of the roller. The roller 212, like the roller serves not only to remove excess moisture from the print but also as a puddling roller to insure moisture reaching all points on the print.

lhe print is then carried on'around beneath the roller 28 where it passes between the roller 28 and another squeegee roller this last named roller insuring complete squeegeeing of the print. The print is now in a moist condition but all excess moisture has been removed therefrom. Inasmuch as it is desirable to remove the prints from the machine in this semi-dry condition, I employ another means for removing the prints from the roller at this point, this means comprising a series of roughly triangular shaped strippers 36. These strippers are provided with pointed portions 34a which readily pass between the print and the roller 28 to remove the prints from the roller. The prints are sufliciently stiff that they pass along the under edges of strippers 34 and are deposited on the endless belts 38 which removes them from the machine. The belts 36 are rotatably supported on belt rollers 31 and 38. The belt roller 38 is mounted on the front of the machine and prints leaving the belts drop into a receiving trough 39 on the front of the machine.

Wash water from sprays l7 and Fla is caught by the squeegee strip l9 and splash guard 4| and is carried into a waste water trough 42. The waste water from trough 42 is carried off by means of a conduit 53 down into a large tank 44. The water deposited in the tank 44 drains downwardly through drain pipe 46 into a circulating pump 41 (Figure 4), later more particularly described, which pumps the water back through flexible tubing 50 (Figure 4) to the spray pipes I! and Ma, 23 and 29. The overflow of water from tank 34 is carried off to the sewer by means of overflow pipe 48. Water is supplied from the city mains to the tank 34 by means of a supply line G9. in this manner a supply of fresh water is ill being constantly added to the wash water insuring relatively clean water at all times,

The developing and 'flxing'chemical in trough 28 is drained oil by vmeans of pipe 8| into a chemical tank 82 positioned below water tank 88.

The chemical in tank 82 drains 01! through drain principles of operation that it is possible to mount the entire mechanism in a frame which may occupy a floor space thelongest dimension of which is only a trifle greater than the width of the prints I the machine is to develop and the width of which may be roughly four toflve times the diameter of the largest'rollers. 7

It is obvious that the parts of a machine embodying my invention, rotating and stationary, may be supported inany suitable manner as by plates or a fabricated framework or the like. The

present embodiment of my invention, however,

is mounted on and supported in is fabricated frame such as shown in the drawings. This frame includes vertically extending corner members BI, 62, 83 and 88 Joined at the ends, top and bottom by cross members 88 and 81, 88 and 88, and at the front and rear by cross members 1i and 12, 13 and 18, respectively,

The spray pipes I1 and I1a-are supported on straps 18 and 1 which are in .turn supported from the top, front and rear cross members 1I and 18. These spray pipes are merely pipes having a series of small openings along the bottom thereof and the spray pipes may be readily removed for cleaning by detaching the clamps I8 and 18 by which they are clamped to straps 18 and 11. The spray pipes 2i and 2Ia are supported by brackets 18 which are partsof straps 16 and 11.

The rollers II, I8, I8 and I8 are rotatably mounted in and supported from plates 8I and 82 which are secured across the ends of the machine. The roller 22 is supported for rotation by means of brackets 88 which are in turn mounted on plates 8i and 82. The squeegee I8 is also supported by means of plates 81 and 82. The

squeegee I8 and carrying means I2 are also supported by plates 8I and-82. The splash guard H is supported by the feed table I8 and the feed table is mounted on vertical members 8i and 88.

The roller '28 is rotatably mounted on plates 88 and 88 and the plates 88 and 88 also support the spray pipes 29.

The roller 28 is rotatably mounted in 'end plates 81 and 88 and the plates 81 and," also support brackets 88, 8i and 82 in which rollers 31, 33 and 32 are rotatably mounted. The brackets 83, 88 and 82' are loosely engaged to the respective end plates so that the weight of the respective rollers holds them in place against the large rollers and, the roller J8 in brackets II is biased against the roller 28 by means of a spring 88.

The strippers 88 and the squeegee strips 8I are supported in a sub-assembly by means of bracket 88 which inturn is supported by end plates 81 and 88. The spray 28 is supported by a bracket 88 which, in turn, is supported by plates 8I- and 82.

The large rollers I8, 28 and 28, the feed roller II and the delivery roller 88 are power driven, the remaining rollers being rotated either through rolling on the power driven rollers or in the case of the roller 81, by means of belts 88. The-power for rotating these rollers is furnished by a gear reduction drive motor 88 mounted on upright member 88. The motor 88, through the agency of the reduction gearing 81, drives an endless belt 88 which, in turn-drives a pulley 88 mounted on the shaft "I of roller 28, at the right end of the roller.

The large rollers 28 and I8 are driven through the agency of a train of gears I82, I 88 and I88 which gear train is at the left end of the machine with the gears mounted on projecting shaft ends IIII, I 88 and I81 of respective rollers 28, 28 and I8. The delivery roller 88 is driven by means of a belt drive I 88 from a pulley I88 on the shaft I88 of roller 28, the pulley, I l I on roller 88 serving as the drive pulley for that roller.

The feed roller I I is driven by means of a driven pulley II2, belt H8 and drive pulley II8, the drive pulley being mounted on shaft I81 ofroller I8.

The water tank 88 is supported by cross members H8 and H1 and thus additionally "stiffens the structure. The chemical tank 82 is likewise supported in the vertically extending frame members 6|, 82, 88 and 88 below the water tank. The pump assembly, including motor 81 and centrifugal pumps 8-1 and, is supported beneath the chemical tank 82 by means of a platform II8, which is in turn supported by cross members 12 and 18.

The current for energizing motors 81 and 88 is controlled by switches III and I22, respectively.

In operation of the machine the exposed prints are fed in one by one to the rollers I I and I8 and are carried through the flrst wash water to remove the unexposed portions of the print. Only the sensitized side of the print is "washed at this first operation and this sensitized face is imwhere the back side of the print is washed and means of the rollers 32 and 88 and the semi-dry print is stripped from the roller 28 by means of the strippers 38. The print falls on the belt 88 and is then carried out of the machine and into the catch tray 38. It is to be noted that in carrying the. print to the first roller, advantage is taken of the stiffness of the print to drive it into this roller. stripped from successive rollers by water sprays without the necessity of intervention of other mechanical devices. When the print is removed from the last roller the point of removal is such that theweight of the print assists'in removingit from the roller. The print is now in a semidry condition and, of course. water sprays can not be used at this point, but I take advantage of gravity to facilitate this final stripping operation.

It is apparent that I have eliminated the necessity for large wash tanks and chemical tanks by carrying on the successive steps of developing a print on rollers andby means of spraying and puddling device. I have likewise eliminated the necessity for carrying means such as belts and the like for carrying the prints between successive points in the machine. A developing ma-.

chine constructed accordingto my invention has 75.

From this point on the print is IZII chanical means or by air drying. As has been previously stated, this machine occupies a very small fioor space, yet is capable of handling a large number of prints in a short time. It thus lends itself readily to the production oi small prints and sheets which cannot be handledin the continuous blueprint machines known to the art. The width of the print is a direct factor of the width 01" the machine and the machine need be but very little wider than the print to be developed by it. The machine will handle not only small prints, but will develop prints from a roll almost any length. If desired, the printing machine might readily be used in connection with a continuous printing machine and the continuous strip of paper from the continuous printer may be led directly into the developing machine.

Another advantage and feature of my invention is that by using wetted or water retaining rollers the wash water and chemical is applied to both faces of the sensitized film or print at the same time. This permits wetting of the film on both sides at the same time and the film is thus permitted to stretch or expand on both sides because water is entering the film from both sides. This method also greatly assists in handling small prints.

Furthermore, my process avoids a marked difilculty oi the devices of the prior art. The prior art devices employed belts and other mechanical means for carrying the sensitized films through the machine. Ihese mechanical devices did not readily permit expansion of the film which was expanded by the action of water and consequently the film became creased and wrinlrled. With machines constructed according to my invention the film passes freely from one roller to another and may readily expand, and the spaces between the rollers permit the film to stretch. This point is of major importance.

It is apparent that modifications of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art. For instance, a plurality of chemical and water sprays or single sprays may be used. The arrangement of Squeegees and squeegee rollers,

puddling rollers, and the like, may be modified. 1

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my nvention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a print developing machine, at least two rollers positioned on horizontal axes one below another, and means for stripping the prints from the first of the rollers comprising means for producing a water spray the spray being directed between the advancing print and the roller, and the spray being located'below the axis of the first roller so that when the print is stripped from the first roller it falls by gravity onto the second roller.

2. In a machine for developing sensitized film, means for propelling the film through the machine comprising rollers, means for holding .the film while it is being .treated'including wetted rollers. and means for stripping the film from the wetted roller comprising means for producing a water spray the "spray producing means being aisaair ing the print after the chemical has been applied including another spray, including means for carrying on excess water and recirculating the same.

The combination, in a continuous process print washing and developing machine, of a conveyin system including a series of spaced rollers arranged in close juxtaposition in a vertical plane so that a print will be conveyed through the machine by the combined action of gravity and sprays, spray devices for depositing chemical on the print at one portion of its travel through the machine, other spray devices for washing the print at points preceding and succeeding the point where the print was chemica"y treated, and means associated with the mac whereby excess chemical deposited by the spray devices is retained and recirculated to the spray devices.

5. In a print washing and developing machine, a plurality of rollers so disposed in a vertical plane that a print may be conveyed through the machine and subjected to washing and developing action solely by the action of gravity and sprays, spray devices for washing and for depositing chemical on the-print at various points in its travel, other means for retaining andrecirculating to the spray devices the excess water or chemical.

6. In a print washing and developing machine,

a system of conveying and squeegee rollers arranged in close juxtaposition in a vertical plane for handling the print as it is exposed to chemical and washing action, the rollers being arran ed in a-vertical plane topermit the print to fall or from one roller to another by the action of gravity and spray means, other means for conveying the prints to and from the said system, spray devices located at various points along the line of travel of the print for depositing water and chemical solution on the print,

means for driving the rollers and other means for circulating the washing water and chemical solution for expulsion from the spray devices;

7. in a print washing and developing machine, a first roller, means for placing a print on the first roller, sprays for spraying chemical on the sensitized face of the print while it is in position on the first roller, means for stripping the print from the roller including a water spray. the water spray being directed between the advancing print and the roller to wash the back the water spray beingdirected between the advancing print and the roller to wash the back side of the print, a second roller for receiving the print stripped from the first roller, a wash spray for stripping the print from the second roller and for washing the sensitized face of the print, a third roller for receiving the print stripped from the second roller, and squeegee rollers positioned to roll on the roller and print to squeegee water from the print.

9. In a print washing and developing machine, a first roller, means for placing a print on the first roller, sprays for spraying chemical on the sensitized face of the print while it is in position on the first roller, means for stripping the print from the roller including a water spray, the water spray being directed between the advancing print and theroller to wash the back side oi the print, a second roller for receiving the print' stripped from the first roller, a wash spray for stripping the print from the second roller and for washing the developed side of the print, a third roller for receiving the print stripped from the second roller, squeegee rollers positioned to roll on the roller andprint to squeegee water from the print, and stripping means for stripping the print from the third roller.

10. In a print developing machine, a first and last roller mounted for rotation on parallel axes, means for feeding the print to the machine comprising roller means for propelling the print and supporting means for supporting it as it is being propelled, and water sprays forwetting the print to causeit to adhere-to the first roller, other water spraysfor washing the print, an intermediate roller for carrying the print from the first to the last roller, means for spraying chemical on the print. means for removing the print from the i lastroller comprising stripper members adapted to pass between the print and the roller, the-position of the advancing ed e of the print squeegeerolleradaptedtorollonthefirstroller, thesqueegee'rollerbeingpositionedatoneside ofthefirstrollerwherebyfiuiddirectedontothe print is caused to form apuddle contacting the print between and above the line of contact of the rollers by reason of the rollers being in intimate contact with the face of the print.

12. In a developing machine, a roller, means for causing a print to adhere to the roller, a squeegee roller rolling on the first roller and located at one side thereof, and means for directing a fluid spray on the roller just in front of the squeegee roller whereby the spray fluid covers the face of the print as it rotates on the roller and whereby also the squeegee roller forms a puddle of fluid between the squeegee roller and the first roller to insure the fluid reaching all points on one face of the print.

13. In a developing machine, at least two rollers positioned one above the other, means for stripping prints from the upper roller, the rollers being positioned one above the other and the stripping means being located between the rollers so that when the print is stripped from the upper roller gravity acts to cause the stripped I print to fall from the upper roller to the lower.

a moisture holding surface to hold fluid on the surface thereof, means for applying fluid to the surface oi. the roller, means for controlling the film of fiuid on the. roller comprising a squeegee strip, and means for assisting the application of fiuid to the roller comprising a squeegee roller.

16. In a developing machine, a plurality of rollers, means for causing a print to adhere to 'the rollers comprising wetting means for wetting the rollers, means including a water spray for stripping the print from one roller and causing it to adhere to the next roller, spray means for washing the print'as it passes over the rollers, feed rollers for causing the print to be carried to the first roller, supporting means for supporting the print as it is directed toward the first roller, strlpper means for strippin the print from the last roller, and belts for carrying the print out of the machine.

FBEDDOIIZILJL 

